Criminal Convictions, Cautions and Declaring to Your Regulator

This course explains when UK healthcare professionals must tell their regulator and employer about criminal charges, cautions and convictions, including those received abroad, and why healthcare professions are treated differently under rehabilitation of offenders law. It explains how regulators assess criminal matters, why failing to declare is often more serious than the offence itself, and how to make an honest, well-prepared declaration.

What you will learn

• Describe what each UK healthcare regulator requires you to declare about criminal charges, cautions and convictions, at registration and during your career.
• Explain why healthcare professions are exempt from most of the protections of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and what protected cautions and convictions are.
• Explain how regulators assess the relevance and seriousness of a criminal matter to fitness to practise.
• Recognise why non-disclosure is treated as a question of honesty and can be more serious than the original offence.
• Prepare a clear, accurate and reflective declaration, with appropriate supporting evidence.

Course content

1. Why criminal matters concern regulators (2 min)
2. What you must declare and when (3 min)
3. Rehabilitation of offenders and protected matters (2 min)
4. How regulators assess criminal matters (2 min)
5. Why non-disclosure is so serious (1 min)
6. Making a good declaration (4 min)
7. Insight and remediation plan (1 min)
8. Knowledge check (10 questions, 10 min)
9. Guided reflection (15 min)

Standards and guidance covered

• GMC: Good Medical Practice (2024), including the duty to tell the GMC without delay if, anywhere in the world, you have accepted a caution, been charged with or found guilty of a criminal offence
• NMC: The Code (2015, updated 2018), section 23, including telling the NMC as soon as reasonably possible about cautions, charges and convictions, and NMC guidance on health and character
• HCPC: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics (2024), including telling the HCPC as soon as possible about cautions, charges and convictions
• GPhC: Standards for pharmacy professionals (2017) and the GPhC's requirements on declaring fitness to practise matters
• Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975, as amended

Certificate

Courses are free to study. When you pass the knowledge check (80%) and complete your reflection, you can buy a verified certificate showing your CPD time, with a unique ID and QR code that anyone can check on our verification page.

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Practitioner Insight is an independent education provider. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the GMC, MPTS, NMC, HCPC, GPhC or any NHS organisation, and this information is not legal advice. If you have been referred to a regulator, speak to your defence organisation, trade union or legal representative.